Addressing or mailing machine.



0. OWENS. ADDRESSING OR MAILING MACHINE.

' AIPPLIOATION FILED APR, 3. H08.

' Patented-May 18, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

m ma not limit myself in this respect.

machine capable of rapid operation and one atflyand exiendin over the surface UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES OWENS, 0F CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNUB, BY DIREUT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 MONTAGUE MAILING MACHINERY CO.

ADDRESSING OR MAILING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES Owsns, citi zen of the United States, residing at Chattanooga, Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Addressing or Mailing Machines, of which the following is a specification. v

My invention relates to addressing or mail ing machines and my object is to provide a which is of simple construction.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangement of arts hereinafter described and particular y pointed out in the claims. g In the drawin s, Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine.- i 2 is an elevation. Fig, 3 is a cross sectiona view substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and Fig 4 is a cross sec tional view ,substantiall on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 1. I Fig. 5 is a detai section of one of the rioting plates. Fig. 6 is a view of the inkmg roller.

11 carrying out my invention I employ rintin p ates which prefer to make of cm ossed orm having the letters or characters raised from the surface of the metal composin the plates, such for instance as is disclosec in my a plication for Letters Patent of the United tates, filed June 20, 1907, it

379959, though it will be understood that while I prefer to use this form of plate I do These printing plates or like members are arranged in a hopper 1 arranged over a table 2, which is suitably'supported and carrieshangers 3,; in which are journaled the shafts or drums 4' about which a belt 5 passes. This belt extends alon the upper surface of the table 2 and beneat the hop er 1, and it is rovided' With'grippers or stu s 6 extending t erefrom 1 to engagethe lowermost printing late of the pile in the hopper 1, to move it orw'ard'for the addressing or printing 0 elation in connection withthc article sue as an envelop or magazine which is fed into proper position tn receive the impression from the printing p ate.

It will bet'ibserved that the printing plates have depressed side ed es and these plates rest up n a support or s elf 6' at the bottom of the hopper ;1 said su portheing held-at onec'ni-i ,by the wall oftlle hopper as plpinln o t c bolt, lcavhig' a slig t clearance between its I under side and the upper surface of said belt. The printing plates are wider than the suport 6' and their side edges extend down boow the su port 6 and near the upper side of the belt, saving a slight clearance. The grip rs or studs 6 are so located as to en ago the epressed side edges oithe printingp ate and move them forward one by one from the bottomof the )llO. The front wall of the hopper is provi ed with an opening at 8 for the forward passa of the printing plates. After leaving the lihpper and being moved from the support or shelf 6 the printing plate drops upon the endless band and its depressed side edges fall into recesses 9 in said band arranged directly adjacent the grippers or feeding studs 6, and this allows the main or embossed portion of the printin plate to rest firmly u on the upper surface 0 the endless band to 1nd a substantial backthereon fter leaving the hopper the printing plate is inked by the rubber covered periphery 10 of an inking roll 11, journaled in brackets 12 adjustably secured at 13 to the hopper. This inking roller is provided with Elli." flanges 14 of largerdialneter than the diam-- eter of the inking surface or periphery lo, and these flanges are so located that they will run upon the upper surfaces of the depressed edges of the printing plates and u on then persurface of the endless belt,

w ile at t e same time the inking pc riphery 10 of the rollers will contact with the raised or embossed characters to apply the ink thereto. From this construction it will be seen that the plates will be held firmly in position. and the ink will be applied accurately and uniformly to the embossed characters, the relation of the inkin r periphery and the embossed characters eing accurately determined and maintained by the flanges of the inking roller arranged its described' The inking periphery of the. roller is separated from the flanges by a space 14, on each side in order that the ink may be kept from s reading to the side flanges and thence to t e edges or body of the printing plates.

Ink is sup lied to the ink roller by a Ill) ' be addressed, I show means for feeding by the movement of the belt.

envelops on to the moving band. The hopper or support forthe envelops comprises supports 16', 17 upon which the envelops rest on edge or in a vertical plane, the rig t hand edges of the envelopsi finding a bearin u on the railor bar 18 while the left han e ges of the envelope lie adjacent the'feed roller 19 arranged upon an upright shaft 20 journaled in a bracket 21 extending from the frame or table 2. Thi shaft carries near its lower end a disk 2 which is borne upon b the belt 5, so that it-to ether.

[with the fee ing disk or roller 19 is riven The envelops are thrust against this feed roller by a feedin device consisting of a roller 22" carried y a swin 'ng arm 23 pivotally mounted *in a brac et 24 secure to the table 2 of the machine- This roller has a ratchet wheel 25 at its upper end enga ed by a sprin pawl 26. The swinging bracket is returne to the position shown in Fig. 1, after being operated, by a'spring 27.

For operating the feed roller I provide pins 28 extending up from the belt, the said pins being in line with a depending pin 29 of the swinging bracket 23, 'so that when a printing plate which has been inked arrives in position op osite the hopper or feeding in place for t 'e envelo s or other articles the pin 28 of the belt will strike the do ending pin 29 of the swinging bracket In turn the same, thus moving the roller 22 toward the left from the position shown in Fig. l, and as this roller is composed of gelatin, or has a gelatin surface it will by engaging the foremost envelo move the same toward the left so t at its end edge will strike the periphel ol' the feed roller 19 and this end will lie movedinwardly by this roller. The roller ,22 on this movement will be held against rotation by the pawl engaging the ratchet wheel, but after the pin 28 disen ages itself from the pin 29 the spring 27 will return the swinging frame 23 back to normal position shown at Fig. I and in this movement the roller 22 can turn freely and thus simply roll with its surface upon the envelop. The envelo which has been thrust toward the le t however, will be by the action of the roller 19, turnedover upon the belt and will feed on to the printing plate and will immediately pass therewith between the impression rollers 30, 3], these rollers bein journaled in suitable bearings connecte with the table 2. The impression is made by these rollers and after seeing them the envelop passes up aninc me 33 while the printing through an opening in the incline i-n icated in dotted lines immediatelyto the left of the roller 30 in Fig. 1.

I provide at 35 a roller or disk arranged with its side face in a vertical plane and bearin upon theed eo-f the traveling belt. The 0 ter face of tfiisrroller serves as the stop against which thesenvelo s'bear, the said envelops also finding a ,7 aring near their upper portions a ainst the end of the bracket 24. This dis 35 also serves to feed the envelop toward the left in Fig. 1, and it affords a bearing also for the edge of the belt to prevent the said belt from being deflected laterally at this point by' reason of the pin 28 contaetingwith the pin 29.

The (pin 28 is secured in a metal plate 36, em-

bed ed in the traveling band and this plate bears at its end on the side face of the wheel or disk 35. I also provide a roller at 36 for supporting the belt at a point directly below the inking roller. motion from contacting with the belt, and of course this is true also of the feedroll 19 and the rotation of the inking roll and the impression rolls also de ends upon the traveling movement of the be t.

It-will be understood that instead of having the carrier belt arranged to pick up the printing plates, I ma employ an endless elt having printing p ates or type surfaces carried permanently thereby, said belt thus forming in effect a traveling or rotary )ress member coacting with the pressure rol to make the impression.

I claim as my invention 1. In combination, an endless belt or carrier for the printing members, a hopper, inking means, said belt having a horizontal portion, means for feeding the articles to benddressed or mailed upon the said horizontal portion when the printing member arrives at this point, and impression means, said artieles being fed u on the printing members in advance of t 1e impression means and independently thereof substantially as described.

2. In combination a hopper for the printing plates, which plates consist of sheet lllllr. terial having its side portions extending downwardly and thence outwardly forming marginal continuntions out beyond and deplates, and a carrier having a plain surface with recesses therein to receive said depressed edges, and nieans pro ectlng from the ing the plates from the hopper, substantially as described. a

3. In combination, a hopper having a support for the main pin-lion ol' the printing surface of thecarrier forengaging and movplate orsten'eil passes into a hop er 34 The roller 35 derives its pressed in relation to the main part-ofthe receive the de plate leaving its side edges depending, and a carrier having means to engage the dependin; side edges of the printing plate, substantia ly as described. v

4. In combination, a hopper having a sup port to engage the main part of the printing plate, leaving its side edges depending and a carrier having means to engage the depending side-edges and having a supporting surface for the main JOI'tiOD of the plate, substantially as descn JCLl.

In combination, a hopper having a support for themain portion of the printing plate, leaving its side edges depending and a recessed carrier to receive the said side edges and i'nmish asupport for the main part of the printing plate with means for on aging the depending edges of the printing ate to move it from the hopper, substantially as described.

6. In combination in apparatus of the class described, a carrier having recesses to ressed edges of the printing plates, meanst ereon for en a 'ng the rintmg plates and an inking rol avmg anges to engage the depressed edge portions of the printing plates while-lying in said recesses, and an intermediate peripheral portion to apply ink to the printing plate, substantia ly as described.

7. In combination in apparatus of the class described, an endless carrier or belt, a hopper for the rinting lates, said printin plates hav' dlapressed edge portions an the said carrier or belt having recesses to receive the some, and an inking roller having flanges to engage the edge portion of the printing plates, and an intermediate inking periphery to engage the main part of the printing plate w ich finds a backing gainst the carrier or belt, substantially as described.

8. In combination with a-carrier having a recess or recesses to receive de ressed portions of a printing plate and an inking roller to enga e the main part of the plate which finds a asking against the carrier, said carrier moving the printing plate to and past the inking roller substantially as described.

9. In combination with printing plates having depressed lateral edges, a ho per for holding said printing plates, an end ess car ricr moving under the opper and having recesses to receive the depressed edges of the printing plates to carry them in the direction of the lines of characters thereon, means for holdin thearticles to be addressed on edge alongside of the endless carrier, and means for feeding the articles in a direction transveisely of the movement of the said carrier and onto the up or faces of the printing plates, substantia y as described.

10. In combinati n with the carrier for the printing lates a d which also serves as a. carrier foejadicle to be addressed, feedthe said roll being free to turn' devices,

ing mechanism for the articles to be ad dressed and means on said carrier for 0 crating said feed mechanism, 'substantia' 1y as described.

1 I. In combination with the carrier for the printing plates, means for'holding the articles to be addressed, a feed roller, an oscillating support therefor, against rotation in one direction but allowing said roller to rotate when the support swings back to normal position, and means for oper ating' the said support from the carrier, sub stantially as described.

12. I ncomltainati'on in zipparatus-ofthc class described a carrier 0 r the printing plates, a feed roll for the articles to be ndk dressed, means for holding the said roll against rotation in one direction a carrier for said roll having a back andifort :moveznent, as it moves for operating the carrier of the roller from he printing plate carrier substantially as described.

bacl'rwardly, and means 13, In combination with the carrier forthe printing plates, means for holding the articles to be addressed adjacent cles and a pin on the carrier to engage the said feed member, and move it forward in the direction ,of the feed substantially as described.

14. In combination with the carrier forthe pr'intinlgdplates, a feed member for the articles to be a ressed comprising a pivoted support havinga portion to contact with the 'articles sai support having ,1; movement in'the direction of the iced and a in on the carrier to operatethe said pivot support andfree itself therefrom, substantial y as described.

' 15. In combination with the endless can rier for the printing plates having a portion extendin in one plane, means for supportin the artic es on edge adjacent and laterally 0 the said portion of the endless carrier, and means for tipping the articles in a. direction transverse to the carrier and over upon the printing dplate on the carricngubstantially as describe 16. In apparatus of the class described, an endless carrier for the rinting means having a horizontally extendlng portion, means for holding the articles to be addressed on edge along side the said carrier and a roller to enmeans for holding the roller thereto, a feed member having a back andforth movement in thedirection of the feed to engagethe artilit gage the forward end of the articles to ti the same over upon the carrier, substantia y as described.

17. In apparatus of theclass described, an endless carrier having a horizontally extending portion and having thereon the rinting means for holding thearticllis to be addressed on edge alon side the said carrier anda roller to engage t eforward end of the l s th one ev r up c r i r,

- n es was W a r at scribed.

18. In combination, the endless carrier having a horizontal portion and having thereon the printing devices, means for'supporting the articles to be addressed adjacent said carrier, a device for tipping the articles over u on the said carrier, and a device having a ack and iorth movement for movin the articles against ,the tippi device, sai back and fort movement resu ting from the movement of the carrier substantially as described. A

19. In combination, the endless carrier having a horizontal portion and having thereon the printing devices, means for supporting the articles to be addressed adjacent said carrier a device for tipping the articles over thes'ald carrier und a device having a back and forth movement'for m ovi ng the articles against the tippingdevice, said back and forth device being, operated from the carrier substantially as, described. V

.20., n combinationin apparatusof the class escribed, the endless carrierforpriht ing..p ates, .an i mpression oll,' a statio n'ary ie m a receivethe art ces there pn ,and up winch the articles alter leav 'eimpression roll, and a receptacle to receive the printing plates from the endless; carrier, spbstantially as described.

- 21. in combination in apparatus of the mem class described,'the endless carrier for printing plates, an impression roll, an incline up w ie the articlespass after leaving the impression roll, and a' receptacle to receive the pr nti' 'platesfrom the endless carrier, said incline aving an openingmfor the assage of the printing plates, su tantial y as described.

22'. In combination in apparatus of the classdescribed, an endless carrier belt, means for holding the articles on edge along side the same, said belt having means for holding the printing plates and adisk rotating in a vertical plane by engagement with the edge of the endless carrier and furnishin a bearing on its outer face for the artic es to be addressed, substantially as described.

23. In combination with the endless carrier belt for the printing plates, means for holding the articles to be addressed on edge alongb side said belt a pivotally mounted er for feeding the articles, a in on the belt for o crating the said mem er. and a disk afl'or a side bearin for the belt and rotated tllere y said disk urnishing a bearing forthe artic es to be addressed and tending to feed them forward, substantially as described. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES OWENS.

Vl itne sses:

ELEANOR A. Snnms, N. MAY Inn; 

